Live Baccarat and Online Baccarat

Baccarat is a fast paced table game that is often featured in its own area in a and casino. The game usually attracts high rollers and is a very popular choice among Asian players. While Baccarat remains a top played game in land casino locations, it is equally popular with online casinos. Players can enjoy the thrills of the game, various betting options and even side bets, all without having to leave the comforts of home. With online and live dealer baccarat, the action is brought to the player and these great games can be enjoyed in free and real money versions, catering to all types of online players.

Playing Baccarat Online

Just about every operating online casino will offer a baccarat game and these games are designed to replicate games that are found in land casinos. However, the end results of the game are all controlled by the Random Number Generator, so there is not an option for players to make use of many strategies that can improve the outcome. Despite this, online baccarat is a game that appeals to many. It is easy to play and can be picked up by the newest player. While it is a fast paced game, the online version is more controlled, so players will not feel any pressure from others that are at the table.

The online game of baccarat is played just like it is in a land casino and the same game rules are in play. One of the great benefits of playing online is that the game is often offered in a free version. Which is great for anyone that is new to the game and needs to learn rules and become comfortable with betting options before they start to wager.

Many online casinos offer baccarat tutorials as well, and these can be very beneficial. With the online version of baccarat, players can engage in an exciting game at any time and will benefit from some amazing payouts. The games that are found have been created by some of the best providers in the industry, offering top notch graphics and animations and smooth game play on desktops as well as mobile devices.

How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat is played with 6 to 8 decks and cards are dealt from a shoe. There are two hands that are dealt, the banker and the player. Players at the table will not get their own hands and will never touch the cards. Prior to cards being dealt, players will bet on whether the player or banker hand will win or if there will be a tie.

Banker and player winning hands both offer a 1:1 payout, but most online casinos will charge a 5% commission with the banker bets, so the odds are a bit lower. The tie bets will pay 8:1 and while this is an impressive payout, this is considered a sucker bet and should always be avoided. The goal of the game is to choose the hand that will have a value as close to 9 as possible using the cards that have been dealt.

The hand values are determined by adding all values of the cards. Any ten or face card will be worth zero and all other cards are face value. If the total is a double digit, the last digit is used for the value. So, if the cards are 8 and 5, totaling 13, the value of the hand is just 3.

Third Card Rule

In some cases, a third card will be dealt before the total value of the hand is determined. If the player hand has a value of 6 or more with the first two cards, no additional cards are used. Should the value be five or less, a third card will be dealt.
With the banker hand, a third card comes into play when the first two cards offer a total of 0, 1 or 2. Should the totals be between 3 and 6, the third card rule will apply based on whether the player hand took a third card and what the value of that third card was.

The third card rule may vary per casino, so it is important to have a complete understanding of all game rules and options before playing.

Intro to Live Baccarat

Live dealer baccarat takes things to a whole new level for online gamblers. With the live version of the game, players will actually feel like they are at their favorite land casino, but will still reap the benefits of playing at home for real money. With live dealer games, players will enjoy baccarat as a real casino experience and will play the game in real time.

The game rules are the same and the betting options do not differ with the live version of baccarat. However, these games are streamed from a land location and they are all played live, so it allows players the ability to use some strategies. Since there is no random number generator in use, the game can be played exactly as it is at a land casino, offering the most realistic experience from home.

Most online casinos that feature live dealer baccarat will only allow players to play the game for real money. There is a higher cost to support these games and there are very few sites that offer free versions. Players will find that baccarat tables can have different betting limits, so there are tables for low, mid and high rollers, ensuring that every baccarat fan will have the ability to play within their budget and enjoy the benefits of these live dealer games.

Live baccarat games offer many options and since players can find casino sites that have multiple variations of the game, they will always have something fun and exciting to enjoy and can benefit from the realism of the game and the great social interactions.

Why Players Prefer Live Dealer Baccarat

For many years, players who like to gamble nine have had to deal with the computerized versions of baccarat. While these games are enjoyable and offer some sense of realism, they do not compare to what is offered with live dealer games. All live baccarat games are streamed from a land location and make use of professional live dealers. Players will even have the ability to choose from different dealers when they access the game.

With the live version of baccarat, players who have a seat at the table can interact with the dealer as well as all other players through a chat option. They will also benefit from real-time card dealing, so they will see each and every aspect of the game unfold on the screen. The live game is streamed using multiple cameras to provide various views of the table. Players will be able to see all bets being placed, all cards being dealt and all actions of the dealer. This creates a realistic presentation, far better than what is seen with the standard games at online casinos.

The main reason many players choose to engage in live dealer baccarat is because of the lack of the RNG. Some players feel that games controlled with an RNG are geared to favor the casino and not offer true chances at winning or game results. With live games, the RNG is not used, so players will get actual results and live actions at all times.

One more great advantage is the speed of the live dealer game. Since these games are played in real time and have a set number of seats that can be filled, the game does move faster than an online version, replicating a true casino experience. Some players seek the fast paced thrill of this game and the live version is the next best thing to visiting a local and casino. The game offers more excitement than a computerized version and players will benefit from the interactions with all others at the table as well as the dealer. In fact, players often pick up great game tips and strategies from others, so there are multiple benefits to having a chat option with the dealer and players.

Types of Live Baccarat Games

There are some online casinos that have multiple versions of live baccarat and these present players with many ways to enjoy the game and collect payouts. One version that is quite popular with players is Mini Live Baccarat. With this, the rules are the same as with standard baccarat, but the table layout is simplified. The main difference between the games is that mini baccarat has a single play format.

Some casinos will offer a complicated form of the game called In Running Baccarat. With this, players can bet in stages during the deal. The game starts with an opening betting round, placing wagers on the Banker, Player or Tie. After a single card has been dealt to the Player, there is another betting round. This continues with a round for the Banker card that is dealt. This continues for all stages of the game. Players are not required to bet on all stages, but they can drastically increase their payouts if they place the correct bets on the various game stages.

Side Bets with Live Baccarat

There are some live baccarat games that also allow players to place side bets in hopes of earning extra returns from the game. One of the more popular games with a side bet option is Dragon Bonus Baccarat. With this game, the payouts will depend on the value margin of the selected hand. Natural hands will offer equal payouts and larger rewards can be won with non-natural hands. The side bet payouts are based on the point spread between the two hands, with the highest amount being a 30:1 win for a margin of 9 points and the smallest being a 1:1 win for 4 points. Any spread below 4 will lose the side bet.

Lucky Pairs, or Baccarat Pairs, is another side bet game that is quite exciting when played as a live dealer game. Here, two side bets will be offered, placed on either the player or banker hand. If the first two cards received in the player hand are a pair, that bet will win. The same goes for the banker hand. It is possible for players to wager on both options. These side bets will pay independently from the main game and will offer a reward of 11:1.

Another side bet game is Progressive Baccarat, where players will place a bet to be eligible to win a large progressive jackpot. With each bet placed, the jackpot amount will increase and the initial two cards that are dealt will determine the outcome of these bets. There will be fixed payouts for hand combinations and these are listed on the screen so players can easily know what they are about to win.

A final option for those that like placing side bets is Super 6 Baccarat. This is similar to a Zero Commission game and the banker hand with a value of 6 will pay 1:2. The Super 6 side bet will be a bet placed on whether the Banker will win with a total of 6. If this happens, the payout will be 12:1.